Students in the Buffalo Trail Public School Division will soon be getting their hands on some new electronic tools.
The school division has received a $1,396 grant from BestBuy Canada’s Social Impact Initiative program. Best Buy Social Impact Manager Karen Arsenault says the grants will go towards helping students prepare for future careers in technology.
“We want to equip Canadian students with the right technology to keep them inspired, motivated and empowered as they learn and grow. We know that by providing this technology it opens doors to unlimited possibilities and helps them prepare for the tech-reliant jobs that they’ll be going into.”
The grant will be going towards buying a MakeyMakey STEM Class Kit which includes wires, alligator clips and other pieces to create technology projects. Arsenault says the item is an invention kit and can make everyday items into computers.
“You can use it to create a piano out of bananas or a staircase. You can use anything that conducts electricity like Play-doh to create video game controllers. It’s used to spark creativity in students so they can make their own creations and develop their STEM skills.”
Buffalo Trail received a grant through one of Best Buy’s two grant programs. The STEM Tech Grant, which they received, enhances technology in science, technology, engineering and math programs. The General Tech Grant is given to improve and integrate technology into general classrooms.
The division was one of 15 recipients from across the country with over $110,000 being given out through the grants. The organization received over 265 applications this round.
“What really stood out to us was that this wasn’t for one school but it would be impacting the 18 schools in that district. Even though it was such a simple ask, we knew it would impact a lot of students.”
Best Buy will be opening their elementary School Tech Grant applications in March and another for secondary schools in the fall.
